The Big Chill

This weekend was Meredith's 30th birthday!!!

Being that it was also Labor Day Weekend we did it right and all headed up to the country for a 4 day celebration. It was one of the best vacations of my life - a house full of friends, synchronized swim routines, grilled food and loads of wine and beer, dance parties, hammocks, hikes, waterfalls and wildflowers, and a giant house and 40 acres to run around in and on like pack of maniacal, wild animals.

We lived here and it was awesome.

Talk fest down by the pool.

Synchronized swim team - this is our "genie in a bottle" move.


Charlie holds Office Hours under the apple tree.

There was a small waterfall on the property.

Matt studies the hunks during an intense game of Heartthrob.

I want to wake up with my friends every morning.


The birthday girl!

Before dinner we had cocktails on the lawn and a birthday pinata. We got dressed up in our nicest clothes, but also made a few trips to the "accessories bar" to beef up our outfits.

Things I See With My iPhone

Blimp City.

Sexy vampires strike Greenpoint.

"What is this?" my iPhone asks me.

Shrewsbury: Home Sweet Fun

Went up to Shrewsbury for the weekend.

Allyson (my BFF since 7th grade) came over Friday night and we had a big dinner with my parents and two of their friends. We ran out of beer so Allyson's brother dropped off a 12 pack of Natural Light - what a good little brother! Allyson slept over and in the morning we laid in bed gossiping. My mom poked her head in and said "Wow, it's just like in high school!"

Allyson loves Natural Ice and loves Tom Brady, but doesn't want that Stetson getting too close to her beer.

Saturday night was a collision of worlds. My friends Dawn and Mike (from Brooklyn) were in town visiting another Shrewsbury person that they're friends with so the three of them met up with me and 4 other Shrewsbury people at the Dragon 88.

I was halfway through one Mai Tai (they have the best Mai Tai recipe ever) when a girl at the bar said "Ryan?". It took me a second to realize that it was the daughter of my parents' friends - I used to babysit her and now she's 21! I texted my dad that she was at the Dragon and my dad texted back "OMG".

After we left the Dragon we headed over Dave and Brit's house where we had a major impromptu dance party.

Sunday I went over my aunt and uncle's house and harvested some rhubarb.

Front Page of ETSY!

My pillow made it to the front page of ETSY!!

Play Food

When we were kids my sister had a huge box of play food under her bed. She would get new play food for every gift-giving occasion and had an awesome collection. It was the #1 thing other kids wanted to play with when they came over.

Lately I'm seeing felt food becoming really popular on the craft blogs - I think they're even better than the plastic food (and non-toxic/eco-friendly). Browsing what's out there makes me want to birth a toddler, buy her (please let it be a girl!) all this felt food, put her down for a nap, and make myself a tasty pretend meal.

Cafe Deli Sandwich and Chips by doodlebugfinery

Pasta with Shrimps by GoBuggy

Corn on the Cob by GoBuggy

Box of Felt Chocolates by LittleFluffStuff

Dollar Pancakes with Blueberries and Bananas by bugnikdesigns

Vegetable Set by July Hobby